What to Know as New York Experiences Its Most Intense Flu Season on Record

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New York is experiencing its most intense flu season on record, with hospitalizations jumping 24% in a single week, according to state health officials. The spike comes as flu activity remains extremely high across the Hudson Valley and Catskills — and experts say the season hasn’t yet reached its peak.

“Flu activity currently in Orange and Sullivan counties is extremely high,” said Dr. Jodi Galaydick, an epidemiologist at Garnet Health. “Just last week the state reported over 71,000 lab-confirmed flu cases in a single week, and this has been the highest number ever recorded in one week in New York.”

Dr. Galaydick said this season is running well ahead of what doctors typically expect for late December and early January.

“We’re running higher than what we typically run at this time of the year,” she said. “We haven’t even hit peak yet. We’re already above last year’s peak, so we’re seeing a lot more cases earlier in the season.”

Why cases are rising so quickly
Several factors are fueling the surge, Dr. Galaydick said, including increased holiday travel and gatherings, along with multiple respiratory viruses circulating at once.

“We’re just seeing a lot more virus circulating in the community,” she said. “We also see more than just flu this time of the year. We’re still seeing COVID and RSV. And also this year, not as many people have received the vaccine as in years past.”

While flu cases are up sharply, Dr. Galaydick said the illness itself does not appear more severe than usual. “Cases don’t seem to be more severe,” she said. “But with more cases, you’re going to have more people getting hospitalized just because of the amount of flu that’s in the community.”

That increase in hospitalizations is putting pressure on local hospitals and emergency rooms.

“Whenever we have any type of surge, there’s more of an influx into the hospital,” Dr. Galaydick said. “There’s delays in care. There’s waits in the emergency room because there’s not beds available.”

Who is most at risk
People at higher risk for severe flu complications remain the same groups seen in past seasons, Dr. Galaydick said. “Adults over the age of 65 or older, young children — especially under the age of 5 — pregnant people, people with chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, COPD, weakened immune systems, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.”

She said doctors are seeing many patients who underestimated the flu this year.

“People still get very sick with the flu. It’s not a simple cold,” Dr. Galaydick said. “We’re definitely seeing those people that didn’t think it was going to be a big deal getting sick with the flu.”

Vaccines still matter, even with new strains
Flu activity is rising in at least 32 states, according to the CDC, partly driven by a new influenza A strain.

“We are seeing the new variant H3N2 subclade K,” Galaydick said. “The vaccine is not as effective in terms of what we have currently, but we see this year after year.” Even so, she strongly encourages vaccination.“The vaccine’s not perfect, but it’s still very important,” she said. “People who are vaccinated still see less severe outcomes with flu — less hospitalization, less illness.”

It’s not too late to get vaccinated, she added.

“We see flu go all the way into February and March,” Dr. Galaydick said. “We haven’t even hit our peak yet. So definitely if you’ve not received your flu vaccine this year, now is the time to get it.”

Protection typically builds within about two weeks after vaccination.

When to stay home — and when to seek care
Dr. Galaydick urged people with mild symptoms to stay home and rest when possible. “If you’re having fever, body aches, sore throat, cough and fatigue, but you can still breathe comfortably, you can still eat and drink, you’re still alert, and you don’t have serious underlying conditions, usually it’s safe to stay at home,” she said.

She advised seeking medical care for warning signs such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, bluish lips or face, dehydration, or symptoms that suddenly worsen.

For children, she said parents should watch closely for breathing problems or changes in behavior. “If your children have faster labored breathing, rib pulling, flaring nostrils, any bluish lips or face, unusual confusion, not waking up, not interacting, not eating or drinking, not making wet diapers — definitely consider going to your healthcare provider,” Dr. Galaydick said.

Looking ahead
With winter just getting underway, flu cases are expected to continue rising. Dr. Galaydick’s message for the months ahead is simple. “Get your flu shot if you haven’t gotten it,” she said. “Stay home when you’re sick, mask in crowded spaces, and be proactive in taking care of yourself.”

More information about flu prevention and treatment is available at Garnet Health.

Garnet Health is a financial supporter of Radio Catskill.

Image: In this Feb. 7, 2018 file photo, a nurse prepares a flu shot at the Salvation Army in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)